Blood specimen oscillator

ABSTRACT

Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on the support means, a plate drivingly connected to the motor means and mounted for rotation relative to the support means, and means for removably fastening such containers to the plate for movement therewith. The fastening means may include magnetic means or cooperating Velcro strips or pieces for holding such containers to the plate. If the magnetic means is used, the plate may be metal and the magnetic means may include a clip portion for engaging such containers and a magnet portion connected to the clip portion. The support means includes a light-weight housing which can be carried in one hand and which includes a batteryoperated motor for rotating the plate.

United States Patent 91 Dilts BLOOD SPECIMEN OSCILLATOR [76] Inventor: Robert L. Dilts, 2521 E. 38th St.,

Indianapolis, Ind. 46218 [22] Filed: July 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 56,278

[52] US. Cl. 259/57, 259/81 [51] Int. ,Cl B01! 9/00 [58} Field of Search 259/57, 58, 54, 81,

259/86, 89, 90, 14, 30; 15/22 R, 23, 28; 248/206 A, 205 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,163,404 12/1964 Kraft; 259/57 3,118,207 1/1964 Breslow 248/206 A [451 July24,1973

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Att0rney-Hood, Gust, Irish and Lundy [57] ABSTRACT Means for contrcllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on the support means, a plate drivingly connected to the motor means and mounted for rotation relative to the support means, and means for removably fastening such containers to the plate for movement therewith. The fastening means may include magnetic means or cooperating Velcro strips or pieces for holding such containers to the plate. If the magnetic means is used, the plate may be metal and the magnetic means may include a clip portion for engaging such containers and a magnet portion connected to the clip portion. The support means includes a light-weight housing which can be carried in one hand and which includes a battery-operated motor for rotating the plate.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEuJuL24|m INVENTOR. ROBERT L D LTS BLOOD SPECIMEN OSCILLATOR,

It is a primary object of my present invention to provide means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers into which blood is deposited for testing purposes.

When blood is withdrawn from a persons vein for testing, conventionally, the blood is deposited into one or more test tubes. These test tubes contain, generally in powdered form, a chemical material which may be, for instance, an anti-coagulant or a preservative of some kind, most preservatives containing some type of anti-coagulant.

I have found that it is very important to keep each test tube into which a blood specimen is deposited gently moving from the time the blood is deposited into the tube to maintain turbulence until it is tested. My invention, therefore, comprises. means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers from the time the blood is deposited into the containers until the blood is removed from the containers to be tested. My oscillating means is extremely simple and inexpensive, but yet effective for the purpose intended. My oscillating means is easily carried from a doctors office inwhich the specimens are taken to a nearby laboratory where the specimens are tested. My oscillating means includes a driven plate to which the specimen containers are re movably fastened and a small battery-driven motor for driving the plate. The entire oscillating means is easily carried by a nurse or technician to the laboratory.

My oscillating means preferably includes rechargeable batteries which keep the motor for driving the plate energized while the oscillating means is being carried from the place where the specimens are taken to the laboratory.

Other objects and features of my present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my oscillating means;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view of my oscillating means;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the magnetic clips used to hold a specimen tube to the rotating plate;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the clip shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of a clip which is held to the plate by cooperating Velcro strips.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the oscillator comprises support means 12 including means providing a portable housing 14 and a base 16 upon which the housing 14 rests. A circular plate 18 is mounted on the housing 14 for rotation, the plate being journal mounted by means such as the illustrated shaft 20 which may be the output shaft of a direct current electric motor such as indicated at 22 in FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that the .motor 22 may be fastened by conventional means to the housing 14.

I prefer that the motor 22 be energized by rechargeable battery means, one battery being indicated at 24. The batteries may be mounted in the housing 14 by means such as the illustrated bracket 26.

I provide means for electrically connecting the battery means in the housing 14 to a direct current charging source, the connecting means including a pair of contact means 28, 30 which mate, respectively, with contact means 32, 34 mounted inside the housing 14. Specifically, when the housing 14 is resting on the base 16, the contact means 28, 30 extend upwardly through access openings 36, 38, respectively, to mate with the contact means 32, 34. It will be appreciated that the contact means 32, 34 are rigidly fastened inside the housing 14 by means such as the illustrated screws and nuts 40, 42. Wires, such as indicated at 44, conventionally connect the contact means 32, 34 to the batteries. The portions of the contact means 32, 34 engaged respectively by contact means 28, 30 are conventionally spring-like to assure good electrical contact.

The connecting means also includes a male connector 46 and a female connector 47 (FIG. 2) for connecting the contact means 28, 30 to opposite sides of a direct current power source. In the drawings, I show the male connector means 46 connected by a conduit 48 to a conventional and commercially available means 50 for converting alternating current to direct current. The means 50 may be plugged directly into an alternating current outlet such as indicated at 52.

I provide a push button-type switch 54 for starting and stopping the motor 22.

The base 16 provides four rectangularly arranged walls 56 for locating the housing 14 in a position such that the contact means 28, 30 will engage, respectively, the contact means 32, 34.

When the motor 22 is energized, the plate 18 is driven in the direction of the arrow 60 (FIG. 2). When the housing 14 is resting on the base 16 and the base 16 is resting on the horizontally extending top of a table, the shaft 20 is horizontally extending. The plate 18 is generally perpendicular to the shaft 20.

In the drawings, the blood specimen containers or the blood specimen tubes are indicated at 62. It is my concept to provide simple yet effective means for quickly and easily removably fastening the tubes 62 to the plate 18 while the plate is rotating. I may accomplish this by providing magnetic means for removably fastening each tube 62 to the plate 18.

In the illustrative embodiment, each tube 62 is held by a clip 64 which is, in turn, rigidly fastened to a magnet 66. The plate 18 is made from ferrous metal. I prefer that the clips 64 be made from a plastic material extruded to provide the somewhat resilient cross sectional shape shown in FIG. 4. The plastic clip 64 may be adhesively or otherwise rigidly fastened to its associated magnetic block 66. Of course, each clip 64 is designed snugly but releasably to hold a tube 62.

Each magnet 66 is preferably of such strength that it will hold its associated clip 64 and a tube 62 on the plate 18 while the plate is being driven about its axis as indicated by the arrow 60 and while a technician carries the housing 14 from a doctors office to a nearby laboratory. However, each magnet 66 is preferably made so that it can be removed from the plate 18 rather quickly and easily by sliding the magnet to the outer periphery of the plate 18.

I have constructed anoscillator in accordance with the drawings of my application. In my oscillator, the plate 18 is 3 inches in diameter and the motor 22 rotates the plate 18 at approximately 30 revolutions per minute. It is possible, of course, to provide means, such as a potentiometer, for adjusting the speed of the motor 22.

In using my oscillator, I start the motor 22 so that the plate 18 is being driven before I begin to take the blood specimens. As soon as I get a specimen deposited into each tube 62, I hold the magnet 66 clipped to the tube in close proximity to the plate to attach the tube to the plate. I can conveniently attach three tubes 62 to a 3 inch diameter plate 18 in this manner. Then, at some suitable time thereafter, I can carry the housing 14 with the plate 18 rotating thereon and with the tubes 62 connected to the plate to the laboratory. The technician responsible for testing the blood will leave the tubes 62 on the turning plate 18 until the blood is to be tested.

In FIG. 5, I show a clip 64 which may be removably fastened to a rotating plate 18' by conventional cooperating Velcro connectors comprising a Velcro strip 68 fastened to the clip 64' and providing projecting hooks 70 and a Velcro strip or cover 72 fastened to the plate 18' and providing projecting loops 74. Velcro connecting means are well known and need not be discussed herein. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,529 is sued Apr. 23, 1963.

In this description and in the appended claims, the terms oscillator or oscillating are intended to refer to the action whereby the air bubble in each specimen tube is moved from end to end of the tube to maintain the proper turbulence of the blood.

I claim as my invention:

1. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means, and means for removably fastening such containers to said plate for movement therewith, said fastening means including magnetic means for holding such containers to said plate.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said plate is metal and in which said magnetic means includes a clip portion for engaging such containers and a magnet portion connected to said clip portion, said clip portion and said magnet portion being carried by such containers.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said support means includes means providing a light-weight housing which can be carried in one hand, said plate being mounted on said housing for movement therewith, and in which said motor means includes a direct current electric motor and battery means carried in said housing to provide direct current for said motor.

4. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means, magnetic means for removably fastening such containers to said plate for rotary movement therewith, said plate being metal, said magnetic means including a clip portion for engaging such containers and a magnet portion connected to said clip portion, said clip portion and said magnet portion being carried by such containers, said support means including means providing a light-weight portable housing which can be carried in one hand, said plate being mounted on said housing for movement therewith, said motor means including a direct current electric motor and battery means carried in said housing to provide direct current for said motor, said support means including a base on which said housing rests, and including means for electrically connecting said battery means to a direct current charging source, said connecting means including contact means on said base and mating contact means on said housing, said contact means being arranged to provide direct current to said battery means when said housing is resting in a predetermined position on said base.

5. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on said support means, a plate drivingly connected tosaid motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means and means for removably fastening such containers to said plate while said plate is rotating for movement therewith, said support means including means providing a light-weight housing which can be carried in one hand, said plate being mounted on said housing for movement therewith, and in which said motor means includes a direct current electric motor and battery means carried in said housing to provide direct current for said motor.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which said support means includes a base on which said housing rests, and including means for electrically connecting said battery means to a direct current charging source, said connecting means including contact means on said base and mating contact means on said housing, said contact means being arranged to provide direct current to said battery means when said housing is resting in a predetermined position on said base.

7. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising portable support means, motor means mounted on said support means, said motor means including battery means for supplying operating current carried by said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means, and means for removably fastening such containers to said plate for rotary movement therewith, said fastening means including pieces of Velcro, one of which comprises projecting hook-like elements and the other of which comprises projecting loop elements, said plate carrying one of said pieces of Velcro on its outer surface, and the other of said pieces of Velcro being attached to such containers.

* I t t i 

1. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means, and means for removably fastening such containers to said plate for movement therewith, said fastening means including magnetic means for holding such containers to said plate.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which said plate is metal and in which said magnetic means includes a clip portion for engaging such containers and a magnet portion connected to said clip portion, said clip portion and said magnet portion being carried by such containers.
 3. The invention of claim 2 in which said support means includes means providing a light-weight housing which can be carried in one hand, said plate being mounted on said housing for movement therewith, and in which said motor means includes a direct current electric motor and battery means carried in said housing to provide direct current for said motor.
 4. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means, magnetic means for removably fastening such containers to said plate for rotary movement therewith, said plate being metal, said magnetic means including a clip portion for engaging such containers and a magnet portion connected to said clip portion, said clip portion and said magnet portion being carried by such containers, said support means including means providing a light-weight portable housing which can be carried in one hand, said plate being mounted on said housing for movement therewith, said motor means including a direct current electric motor and battery means carried in said housing to provide direct current for said motor, said support means including a base on which said housing rests, and including means for electrically connecting said battery means to a direct current charging source, said connecting means including contact means on said base and mating contact means on said housing, said contact means being arranged to provide direct current to said battery means when said housing is resting in a predetermined position on said base.
 5. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising support means, motor means mounted on said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means and means for removably fastening such containers to said plate while said plate is rotating for movement therewith, said support means including means providing a light-weight housing which can be carried in one hand, said plate being mounted on said housing for movement therewith, and in which said motor means includes a direct current electric motor and battery means carried in said housing to provide direct current for said motor.
 6. The invention of claim 5 in which said support means includes a base on which said housing rests, and including means for electrically connecting said battery means to a direct current charging source, said connecting means including contact means on said base and mating contact means on said housing, said contact means being arranged to provide direct current to said battery means when said housing is resting in a predetermined position on said base.
 7. Means for controllably oscillating blood specimen containers comprising portable support means, motor means mounted on said support means, said motor means including battery means for supplying operating current carried by said support means, a plate drivingly connected to said motor means and mounted for rotation relative to said support means, and means for removably fastening such containers to said plate for rotary movement therewith, said fastening means including pieces of Velcro, one of which comprises projecting hook-like elements and the other of which comprises projecting loop elements, said plate carrying one of said pieces of Velcro on its outer surface, and the other of said pieces of Velcro being attached to such containers. 